Here’s the ballot I submitted for my first of the season, along with a little rationale for each team (and where, if anywhere, each squad finished in last year’s poll).

1. Ansonia (No. 3, 14-0): For all the reasons stated in previous post, the Chargers are No. 1 until further notice. I’m not one of those voters who thinks a team needs to lose to be overtaken in the rankings, but it will take an unexpected season for Ansonia to fall down. The nonconference matchup against Masuk will draw eyes could should be the Chargers’ first test.

2. Norwich Free Academy (No. 6, 12-1): The top-ranked team isn’t the only one with a Division I-bound running back. Marcus Outlow captured the state’s attention during last year’s postseason and is back behind an enormous offensive line.

NFA has some massive defensive playmakers, too, and is either the Class LL favorite or is right there.

3. Xavier (No. 2, 12-1): For everything I said earlier, I’m not going to get crazy and say the Falcons are destined for a bad season by any stretch. Right now, though, Xavier is a team without most of its championship parts, although they may eventually come together to form a fourth straight title-winning club.

4. Middletown (unranked, 8-3): Just like my pal Ned Griffin from the Greater Pawcatuck area, I’m drinking the Blue Dragons’ Kool-Aid this fall. They could be the largest team, pound for pound, in the state and return a ton of players from a squad that was clearly on the rise last season. Middletown nearly (should have?) knocked off Windsor, the Class L runner-up, last season. Look out for your Class L favorite.

5. West Haven (unranked, 8-3): For anyone who thinks West Haven should be one of the teams ranked above Ansonia, the Chargers beat the Westies and had them totally worn down by the end of a full game scrimmage (don’t give me the scrimmages-don’t-matter talk, because you haven’t seen the yearly Ansonia-West Haven scrimmage, then). Still, Ervin Phillips is one of the state’s best running backs and the team has size. West Haven has the toughest schedule in Connecticut.

6. Newtown (unranked, 10-1): The Nighthawks seem to be the prohibitive favorite in the South-West Conference with most of its offense back, including quarterback Andrew Tarantino, running back Cooper Gold and wide receiver Julian Dunn. Newtown should be a pretty fun addition to a wide-open Class LL race.

7. Southington (No. 10, 10-1): My fourth Class LL team in the top seven is the one that arguably has the best quarterback in Yale-bound Stephen Barmore. He’s a dual threat and has extra skill help with running back Jarrid Grimmett, although the wide receiving corps is depleted. The Blue Knights’ defense was crucial last year and many parts are back.

8. St. Joseph (unranked, 8-3): Along with Ansonia in Class S, the Cadets are one of the strongest favorites to win a state title. They made it to the Class M quarterfinals last season with a fairly young offense and lost to eventual champion Hillhouse in the snow. Strong and athletic quarterback Jordan Vazzano teams with running back Mufasa Abdul-Basir to make for the division’s best offense.

9. New Canaan (unranked, 9-3): Whenever the Rams fall out of the top 10, it’s not long before they find their way back into it. They need to pick one quarterback (Nick Cascione or Teddy Bossidy) but the athletes, size and experience are there to be right in the thick of things in the Class L race.

10. Daniel Hand (No. 1, 13-0): Maybe the Tigers are a little too low in this poll, but maybe they’re too high. They graduated pretty darn near every impact player (save a couple of defensive guys) from their near-unanimous No. 1-ranked team last year (it still makes no sense how someone actually voted for Xavier). But Hand is always good.

11. Rocky Hill (unranked, 9-2): Chris Young is the quietest of the state’s best running backs, but it’s not for a lack of great numbers. Buried in the less-sexy Central Connecticut Conference, the Terriers run the heck out of the ball and don’t mess around with their smash-mouth style. Young will likely run for more than 2,000 yards and 30 touchdowns to help Rocky Hill into the Class S playoffs.

12. Masuk (unranked, 10-2): The Panthers have gone through one of the most bizarre and eventful offseasons (and preseasons) in the state. After longtime coach John Murphy left under not-so-friendly circumstances, recent ship-jumper Sean Patrick Bowley reported some discord among coaches, players and parents this preseason. But as soon as everyone aired the dirty laundry, word from Masuk scrimmages is that the team is tearing it up.

13. New London (unranked, 7-3): Ned Out East says the Whalers bring back 14 starters, including most of their skill players. They have a pretty good schedule, which will help them when the time comes for the Class L playoffs.

14. Oxford (unranked, 8-2): I’m high on the Wolverines, who have to navigate a schedule that doesn’t include SWC favorite Newtown or wild card New Milford (John Murphy’s new team). Sure, Masuk and postseason contender are on a decent slate, but wins are to be had for the Wolverines, who bring back all but a few players on both sides of the ball. The secondary will be particularly strong as is the team’s offensive balance.

15. Naugatuck (unranked, 6-4): We don’t know what kind of balance the Greyhounds will have, but Craig Bruno is going to have them knocking on the door for the Class L playoffs. They should have an awfully dynamic offense with quarterback Jason Bradley at the helm and they have a new stud defender in Arizona transplant Jordan Hopkins. Knocking off Ansonia may be a stretch, but the ‘Hounds should be legit.